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KEY.
Bot playn power of his [the Pope's] dignite. 1416 AUDELAY
Points 20 Cal the clarge to jour counsel, that bcryn Cnstis
kay ISS LVNDESAY Monarcke 4820 1 hose spiritual keis
quhillds Christ to Peter gaif. IS*" D*"S H.Sleidane's Comm.
4i 7 Whether Priestes onlye have authoritye of the Keyes.
}>rivt Counc. in Land. Gaz. No. 1670/1 The Intrinsick
Spiritual Power of the Church, or Power of the Keys, as it
was exerced by the Apostles. (11711 KEN Hymiwtheo
Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 131 Jesus to you the ghostly Keys
commits, And those you here absolve, in Heav'n acquits.
1849 MACAULAY Hiit Eng. I. iv. 466 Lewis .. was in turn
accused by the Pope of encroaching on the spiritual power
of the keys.
5. A place which from the strategic advantages
of its position gives its possessor control over the
passage
into or from a certain district, territory,
inland sea, etc.
c 1440 CAPGRAVE Life St. Kath. I. 71 Therfor bis kyng
ryght as for a keye Of all hys kyngdame set hys town her.
a 1548 HALL Chron., Hen. VI 153 Which towne was the
kay and passage over the ryver of Soame, from Fraunce to
Normandy, a 1600 MONTGOMERIE Misc. Poems xlviii. 115
For these tua Castells ar the only kees Of all Turkic,
and do divide the sees. 1684 Land. Gaz. No. 1954/3 A very
Important place, which is the Key of Sclavonia. 1733
BERKELEY Querist 266 Whether the sea-ports of Galway,
Limerick, Cork, and Waterford are not to be looked on as
keys of this kingdom ? 1838 THIRLWALL Greece 1 1. xv. 291
He had now the key of Northern Greece in his hands. 1838
Penny Cycl. XI. 214/2 (Gibraltar) Henry IV, king of
Castile.. gave it the arms it still bears, viz. a castle with
a
key hanging to the gate, alluding to its being the key to
the Mediterranean.
trans/. 1869 HUXLEY in Sd. Ofin. 5 May 506/1 And yet
this is the key of the whole position.
6. That which serves to open up, disclose, or
explain what is unknown, mysterious, or obscure ;
a solution or explanation.
c 897 K. ALFRED Gregory's Past. xv. 90 Baet word Saere
Sreaunge is caez, foroaem hit oft onlycS & ReopenaS 3a scylde
be se him self aer nyste se hie ourhteah. ciooo J"ELFRIC
Gram. Pref. (Z ) 2 Staefcraeft is seo cae$ 8e Sana boca and jit
unlicS. 1382 WYCLIF Luke xi. 52 Woo to }ou, wyse men of
lawe, for ;e ban take awey the keye of kunnynge. c 1422
HOCCLEVE Learn to Die 12 Thow of al science berst the
keye. 1597 MONTGOMERIE Cherrie $Slae 411 EuerCurage
keipis the keyis Of knowledge at his belt. 1643 FULLER
Holy 4- Prof. St. in iv. 158 Get the Language (in part)
without which Key thoushalt unlock little of moment. 1713
ADDISON Spect No 435
r 6, 1 have one general Key to the
Behaviour of the Fair Sex. 1788 MAD. D ARBI.AY Diary
31 July, 1 felt his meaning, though I had no key to it. 1883
S. C. HALL Retrospect II. 305 It was the key to his success;
he knew the value of time.
b. spec. The alphabet or explanatory scheme
for the interpretation of a cipher, an allegorical
statement, or other composition of hidden or veiled
the features of a
meaning ; any scheme explaining
picture, identifying the persons represented, etc.;
an
to
outline or simplified map or chart, intended
make a full map, etc., more intelligible a ;
work containing solutions of mathematical or other
; problems a translation of a book or exercise in a
foreign language, to facilitate the work of learners.
1605 Implied in key-cipher [see 16], 1675 Essex Pupers
(Camden) I. 290 'Tis most of it in cypher, w cl1
y 8 Key will
unfolde. 1711 ADDISON Spect. No. 37 P 2 The New Ata.
lantis, with a Key to it. 1753 Scots Mag. Apr. 208/2 A
burlesque upon some late, .transactions; but seems to want
a key. 1800 DK. WELLINGTON Let. to Lieut. Col. Close in
Gurw. Desf>. (1837) I. 151, I beg also that you will send me
a key of the cipher. 1816 SVD. SMITH Wks. (1867) II. 102
Some of the best Greek and Roman classics should be immediately
published, with keys. 1827 HARE Guesses Ser. ii.
(1873) 296 Poetry is the key to the hieroglyphics of nature.
1870 A. R. HOPE My Schoolboy Fr. (1875) 52 Where the
master used a Key to Henry's Exercises.
7. Mus. t a. [after Gnido Aretino's use of davis.]
The lowest note or tone of a scale or sequence of
notes ; the key-note. Obs. Hence, b. A scheme
or system of notes or tones definitely related to
each other, according to (or in) which a piece of
music is written; such scheme being based upon
and named after some particular note (the keynote),
as the key of C. Hence, c. The sum of
melodic and harmonic relations existing between
the tones of such a system ; tonality.
MAJOR,_MINOR, NATURAL (etc.) key: see these words.
(There is app. some relationship between this sense and it,
but its precise nature is not clear j its
origin prob. lies outside
Eng., in the use, in mediaeval music, of L. clavis (whence,
1590 SHAKS. Mids. If. in. ii. 206 Both warbling of one
song ; both in one key. 1597 MORLF.Y Introd. Mus 4 4 Now
I praie you shew me all the seuerall Keyes wherein you may
begin your sixe Notes [i. e. hexachords). 1609 DOULAND
Ornith. Microl. 7 A Key is the opening of a Song, because
like as a Key opens a dore, so doth it the Song. 1674 PLAY-
FORD Skill Mns. i. xi. 57 To shew in what Key the Song was
set, and how each Musical Key had relation one to another.
1694 W. HOLDF.R Hmnmaitjyi) 119 Draw a second Scale
. . but let the Key, or First Note be D Sol re. 1731 KELLER
Knits /or Thorna-Bass in Holder Harmony 192 The extream
Sharp in a sharp Ii. e. major] Key, is the half Note
(i. e semitone) below the Key. 1787 WIJLCOTT (P. Pindar)
Ode upon Ode Wks. i8u I. 421 To hear her pompously demand
the Key Of every piece Musicians play. 1826 B NESS
682
BUNSF.N in Hare Life I. vii. 268, I have often practised
writing out parts in the different keys. 1898 STAINER Diet.
Afus. Terms 253/2 The key of C requires no flats or sharps
for this purpose, hence it is called the normal key.
8. transf. and a.
fig. tramf. (High or low)
tone (of the voice) ; pitch.
1599 B. JONSON Cvnthids Rev. iv. i. Wks. (Rtldg.) 84/1
There's one speaks in a key, like the opening of some Justice's
gate, or a postboy's horn. 16*3 MASSINGER Dk. Milan
ii. i. Plays (1868) 74/1 I'll speak to her, And in a high key
too. 1700 BERKELEY Th. Vision 46 Men speak in a high
or a low key. 1748 J. MASON Elocut. 10 Carefully to preserve
the Key (that is, the Command) of your Voice.
1877
BLACK Green Past. xxxv. (1878) 282 Loudly discoursing m
a high shrill and plaintive key of his troubles.
(
b. Jig. Intensity or force, pitch '
(of feeling or
action) tone or ;
style (of thought or expression) ;
sometimes, prevailing tone or idea, *
key-note *.
1594 NASHE Un/ort. Trav. 36 As for my cariage, he knew
hee was to tuene it at a key, either high or low, as he list.
1599 DANIEL MusefiA.Wks. (1601) Bv, His passions set to such
a pleasing kay. 1621 QUARLES Div. Poems, st&tr(inj) 131
Let peace and love exalt your Key of mirth. 1646 EVANCE
Noble Ord. 16 Which is the right Key of obedience. 1770
LANGHORNE Plutarch (1879) II. 904/2 The key of politics,
which he first touched, he kept to without variation. 1816
KEATINGE Trav, (1817) L 234 He returned in a high key of
spirits in consequence of the reception he was favoured with.
1875 STUBBS Const. Hist. I. xiv. 129 The writs to the barons
. .are shorter but in the same key.
C. Tone or relative intensity (of colour).
1851 H. WILSON Compos. Light $ Shade 65 Pictures,
'
painted in a light key , possess many advantages. 1876
RUSKIN Arrows of Chace (1880) I. 174 Their harmonies of
amber-colour and purple are full of exquisite beauty in their
chosen key.
III. Applied to various mechanical devices, in
function or form suggesting the key of a lock.
9. A piece of wood or metal which is inserted
between other pieces; usually, a pin, bolt or wedge
fitting into a hole or space contrived for it so as to
lock various parts together ; a cotter.
Also, in special senses : (a) A piece of timber framed between
floor-joists by mortice and tenon, (b) Apiece of wood
let into the back of a board or set of boards, across the grain,
to prevent warping, (c) In stone-work : the piece or wedge
of iron used to secure a dovetail in a hole, or driven between
two * feathers '
to split a stone (see quots. 1793). (d) In book-
a metal U-shaped instrument by which each band
binding :
is secured in the sewing-press.
[1408-19 Ace. Roll in Raine BriefAce. Durh. Cath. (1833)
88, ^d. each for 280 '
keys ', or bosses for the crossings of the
beams.] c 1440 Promp. Parv. 269/2 Key, or knyttynge of
ij. wallys, or trees yn an . vnstabylle grownde, . loramentum.
1497 Naval Ace. Hen. l^//(iBg6) 84 Boltes forlokkes kayes
lynces and a taile pynne for the said Curtowe. 1533 FITZHERB.
Husb. 5 The bod ye of the . . wayne the crosse somer, the keys
and pikstaues. 1603-4 in Swayne Sarum Church-tv. Ace.
(1896) 152 Boltes and kayes for the belle*;. 1660 BOYLE New
Exp. Phys. Mech. ii. 37 The brass Key (formerly described
as a stopple in the brass Cover). 1730 A. GORDON Maffeis
Amphitk. 213 The Stones, .are pieced together, .with Keys
of Iron or Stones left projecting out in what was already
built, the better to join them. Ibid. 215 Keys or Cramps of
Metal. 1787 WINTER Syst. H-usb. 312 Take out the pins or
keys which fasten the iron work of the brass collars. 1793
SMEATON Edystone L. 51 The iron stanchions .. were not
fixed into the rock in the method of Key and Dovetail . . but
were fixed in with club ends. Ibid. 147 A method sometimes
used, .for the division of hard stones, called the Key
and Feather.. The Key is a long tapering wedge.. The
Feathers are pieces of iron, also of a wedge-like shape. 1838
SIMMS Pub. Wks. Gt. Brit. 15 Two wrought iron keys for
fixing the rail in the chair. 1857-62 NICHOLSON Diet. Archil.
II, 86 When a key is passed through .. two or more thicknesses
of metal or other material . . it is customary to clasp
them together by gibbs, previous to inserting the key. 1891
D. A. Low Machine Draw. 22 Keys are wedges, generally
rectangular in section, but sometimes circular ; they are made
of wrought iron or steel, and are used for securing wheels,
pulleys, cranks, &c., to shafts.
F In the following passages L. cldvus tiller, rudder, is confused
with clavis key.
c 1374 CHAUCER Boeth. in. pr. xii. 81 (Camb. MS.) He is
as a keye [L. clauus] and a stiere by which bat the edifice
of this world is I-kept stable. 1423 JAS. I Kingis Q. c,
O anker and keye of oure gude auenture.
10. That which completes or holds together the
of an arch,
parts of any fabric ; esp. the key-stone
which by its position and wedged form locks the
other stones and holds together the structure.
Also (a) the last board laid in a floor (Nicholson Did,
Archit. 1857-62); (b) the bent bar of iron which in wellboring
supports the train of rods (Knight/?/V/. Meek. 1875).
1523 FITZHERB. Husb. 3 The sharebeame, the whiche is
the keye and the chiefe bande of all the plough. 1624
WOTTON Archit. in Reliq. (1651) 290 If the great Doore be
Arched with some brave Head, cut In fine Stone or Marble
for the Key of the Arch. 1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 273
The under side of the Arch at the Key to rise in height
18 Inches from the level of the place, whence you begin to
spring the Arch. 1723 CHAMBERS tr. Le Clerks Treat.
Archit. I. 52 Keys .. ought to be . . a real support, and not
stand for mere Ornaments as they frequently do. 1892
Daily News 22 Nov. 3/1 The hole will be lined all the way
round with an iron plate two inches thick. This will be laid
'
all round in 14 segments, and a key '
at the top.
fb. fig. The leading person or mainstay of
a society, etc. ; one of the best dogs in a pack ;
a cardinal point or principle. Obs.
1559 Mirr. Mag.i Dk. Clarence xviii, Where decayed the
kayes of chiuairie. 1578 T. N. tr. Cong. W. India 319 The
key of all these wars consisted in this victory, c 1620 A.
HUME Brit. Tongue vii. 18 That general, quhilk I called the
keie of , . orthographic that is the congruence of the symbol
KEY.
and sound symbolized. 1652 CULPECPER Eng. Physic. (1809)
336 The one must keep his credit, and the other get money,
and that is the key of the work. 1693 EVELYN De la Quint.
Compl. Card. I. 103 Which.. are among our Fruits that
in a Pack of Hounds are in
which those called the Keys
Hunting.
c. That portion of a first coat of wall-plaster
which passes between the laths and secures the
rest; the hold which plaster has on a wall by
means of roughnesses in the surface ; the roughness
of a wall-surface which enables plaster to
adhere to it; the roughing on the under-side of
a veneer, giving the glue a better hold.
1825 I. NICHOLSON Oferat. Mechanic 612 The plaster is
crossed all over with the end of a lath, to give it a tie or key
to the coat which is afterwards to be laid upon it. 1842-76
GWILT Archil, (ed. 7) 1899 A better key is obtained upon
the bricks and mortar. 1888 C. F. MITCHELL B-uild. Constr.
L viL (1889) 104 Tredgold recommends the arrises of wide
timbers to be taken off, so as not to interrupt the key for
plaster.
11. In the organ, pianoforte, and other ('key-
board') instruments : Each of the levers, or more
usually only the exposed front end of each of
these, which are pressed down by the fingers in
playing, and actuate the internal mechanism so as
to produce the various notes.
[This sense appears to be confined to Eng. It is app.
related in origin to 7 : see the note there.]
c 1500 Frcrv. in Anliq. Rep. (1809) IV. 407 He must
handill the keyes all lyke. 1513 in Kerry Hist. St. Lawr. t
Reading (1883) 60 Payd for y6 lokks to the same organs, one
for the stopps and the ober for the keyes. 1626 BACON Sylva
158 In Clericalls, the Keyes are lined. 1632 QUARLES
Dot, Fancies i The unseen Bellows, nor the hand that plays
Upon th' apparant note-dividing Kayes. 1664 PEPYS Diary
Arched Viall . . played
5 Oct., The new instrument . . the
on with kees like an organ. 1785 MAD. D'ARBLAY Diary
16 Dec., 'Are you sure you never play? never touch the
'
keys at all ? 1876 F. E. TROLLOPE Charming Fellovj II. L 4
[She] began to run her fingers over the keys of the piano.
1896 HIPKINS Pianoforte 28 The lower keys
are called the
naturals and, where seen, are covered with ivory ; the visible
ends of the shorter upper keys, called sharps, are raised to
the height required by blocks of ebony glued upon them,
b. In some wind instruments, as the flute, oboe,
etc. : Each of the small metal
clarinet, concertina,
levers, actuated by the fingers, which cover or
uncover the holes so as to modify the length of the
vibrating column of air and thus produce the
various notes.
i76sCROKER, etc. Diet. Arts, etc. s. v. Flute, Stopped and
opened the little
by_ finger's pressing on a brass, or sometimes,
a silver key, like those in hautboys, bassoons, &c.
1829 Specif. Patent 5803 Finger keys have also been added
to such instruments [as the concertina]. 1831 lllustr. Catal.
Gt. Exhib. 1105 D flute of ebony, with keys.. Clarionets in
B and D, in German silver, with all the keys.
fc. Each of the vibrating steel tongues of a
musical box. Obs.
1823 J. BADCOCK Dom. Aitiusem. 67 Long bits of steel
called the keys of the instrument.
12. Hence a. In telegraphy, A mechanical device
for breaking and closing an electric circuit, b.
In a type-writer or similar instrument, each of
a set of levers pressed by the fingers in the same
manner as the keys of a pianoforte or organ.
1837 Specif. Patent No. 7390, 4 Giving signals . . . . by
pressure of his . . fingers upon suitable buttons or finger keys.
1846 Penny Cycl. ist Suppl. II. 616/1 In M. Alexander's
instrument, a set of keys resembling those of a pianoforte,
and corresponding to the number of needles, were arranged
on a frame or table. 1867 SABINE Electric Telegraph 41
The transmitting key used by Morse in his later . .
apparatus
consisted of a lever. 1876 PREECE & SIVEWRIGHT Telegraphy
58 To send dots and dashes by this key it is only necessary
to tap or move it as one would the key of a piano.
13. An instrument for grasping a square or polygonal-headed
screw, peg, or nut, and turning it by
lever action ; esp. (a)
for winding a clock, watch,
or clock-work machine ; (b) for turning the wrest-
pins of stringed instruments ; a tuning-hammer ;
(c) for turning a valve or stop-cock; (d) for turning
a nut a ; screw-wrench or spanner.
The reference in quot. 1610 is somewhat uncertain. In
quot. 1659 applied to the plug of a cock or tap.
1610 SHAKS. Temp. i. ii. 83 Thy false vncle . . hauing both
the key, Of Officer, and office, set all hearts i'th state To
what tune pleas 'd his eare. 1659 LEAK Waterwks. 14 The
Cock D ; whose barrel is . . pierced to the end that the key C
turning either one way or the other,, .the Water, .may run
when the hole of the key C shall agree with one or the other
of them. '
1729 SWIFT Direct. Servants Wks. (1879) 559/2
Hide the key of the jack. 1755 JOHNSON Diet., Key. . 3. An
instrument by which something is screwed or turned. 1783
Phil. Trans. LXXIII 443 Those stop. cocks must be turned
by meansofakey adapted to their square tops. 1828 WEBSTER
s.v., The key of a watch or other chronometer. 1851 I/lustr.
CataL Gt. Exhib. 1147 Ordinary tuning-keys are generally
formed in one piece of hard iron. 1884 F. BRITTEN Watch
J.
ij- Clockm. 131 Capable of being wound without a key.
b. An instrument for extracting teeth, consisting
of a firm handle, with a claw, beak, or hook at
right angles to it, and moving upon a pivot.
1854-67 C. A. HARRIS Diet. Med. Terminal. 377/2 Since
the time of Garengeot, the key has undergone a number of
. . improvements almost every dentist has felt the necessity
of modifying the instrument. 1856 DRUITT Surgeon's I'ade
M. 450 The key is.. often employed for the extraction of
the bicuspides and molars.